How far is Fayetteville, NC from Hays, NC?

The driving distance from Fayetteville, NC to Hays, NC is about 174.7 miles (281.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 150.4 miles (242 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
174.75 mi
03h 40m
Flight
150.39 mi
242.03 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fayetteville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
150.39 mi
Kilometers
242.03 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
174.75 mi
Kilometers
281.23 km
Drive Time
03h 40m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hays
Thu, Jun 4, 5:54 AM EDT
Return by in Fayetteville
Thu, Jun 4, 9:34 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fayetteville
2026-06-04T02:14
Arrive Hays
Thu, Jun 4, 5:54 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:40 AM to 11:40 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:40 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fayetteville
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Forest Oaks
NC

Township in Guilford County, North Carolina

From Fayetteville
87.3 mi
01h 50m
To Hays
87.4 mi
01h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Overnight

Clear

Starts
Thu, Jun 4 1:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 mph SW
Destination
84°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Jun 4 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fayetteville and Hays.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville and Hays.

  1. 1

    Start on Market Square

    15 m · 2 sec · Market Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Hay Street

    2667 ft · 51 sec · Hay Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Bragg Boulevard

    1970 ft · 52 sec · Bragg Boulevard

  4. 4

    Continue on Murchison Road

    8.6 mi · 13 min · Murchison Road

  5. 5

    Continue on South Bragg Boulevard

    2475 ft · 49 sec · South Bragg Boulevard

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on North Bragg Boulevard

    20.9 mi · 30 min · North Bragg Boulevard

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Sanford Bypass

    12.1 mi · 14 min · Sanford Bypass

  8. 8

    Continue on Boone Trail Road

    2156 ft · 29 sec · Boone Trail Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Isaac Brooks Highway

    43.4 mi · 53 min · Isaac Brooks Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 85, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte

    1107 ft · 27 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 85 South, US 421 North: Winston-Salem, Charlotte

    1.3 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Greensboro Urban Loop

    4.8 mi · 5 min · Greensboro Urban Loop

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Greensboro Urban Loop

    6.7 mi · 7 min · Greensboro Urban Loop

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West, US 421 North: Winston-Salem

    5.8 mi · 7 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Winston-Salem, Statesville

    18 mi · 21 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 421: Salem Parkway, Yadkinville

    1087 ft · 27 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on US 421 North: Yadkinville

    3269 ft · 1 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight right

    38.4 mi · 44 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right

    1777 ft · 46 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Red White & Blue Road

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Red White & Blue Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Roaring River Road

    1894 ft · 29 sec · Roaring River Road

  22. 22

    Continue on State Road 2327

    1995 ft · 36 sec · State Road 2327

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Elkin Highway

    3 mi · 4 min · Elkin Highway

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Rock Creek Road

    5.1 mi · 8 min · Rock Creek Road

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Traphill Road

    9 m · 1 sec · Traphill Road

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Traphill Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fayetteville and Hays.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
26 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Isaac Brooks Highway
43.4 mi · 25%
US 421 North
39.3 mi · 22%
I 40 West
23.8 mi · 14%
North Bragg Boulevard
20.9 mi · 12%
Sanford Bypass
12.1 mi · 7%
Greensboro Urban Loop
11.5 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

Isaac Brooks Highway

Continue on Isaac Brooks Highway

43.4 mi · 00h 53m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 40m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.3 mi
150.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Forest Oaks
01h 50m from Fayetteville
Leave By
9:40 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Clear leaving Fayetteville and Sunny near Hays.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fayetteville to Hays?

The road trip is about 174.7 miles (281.2 km) and usually takes 03h 40m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Forest Oaks is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.3 miles from Fayetteville and 87.4 miles from Hays.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 150.4 miles (242 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:40 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.44 one way or $48.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Clear around Fayetteville and Sunny near Hays.

Stop Ideas Near Forest Oaks

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Forest Oaks, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Forest Oaks.

RAIL

J. Douglas Galyon Depot

14 mi away
236 East Washington Street
RAIL

High Point

27 mi away
100 West High St
RAIL

Burlington

27 mi away
101 North Main Street
BUS

Winston-Salem State Univ, Winston-Salem, North Car

48 mi away
601 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fayetteville and Hays. Straight-line distance: 150.39 mi (242.03 km).

Fayetteville

#1 Fayetteville

The most populous city in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Population211,705
Coordinates35.0526600, -78.8783600
Altitude29
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Hays

Township in Wilkes County, North Carolina

Population1,851
Coordinates36.2498500, -81.1156400
Altitude414
CountryUnited States
Start: Fayetteville (-78.87836, 35.05266)
End: Hays (-81.11564, 36.24985)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 281 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.17 gal
23.34 L · about $24.44
Round trip
$48.88
12.34 gal · 46.68 L
Estimated CO2
54.8 kg one way
Round trip: 109.7 kg / 242 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $24.44 $48.88
Mid-grade $4.43 $27.33 $54.65
Premium $4.78 $29.48 $58.96
Diesel $5.62 $34.70 $69.40

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in North Carolina · Jun 04, 2026

There is no time difference between Fayetteville and Hays. The current time is 02:14:03.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.